HYUNDAI HOLDS PIKA 5-3

HYUNDAI HOLDS PIKA 5-3

PRESS RELEASE – It may have taken Hyundai over 30 minutes to find favor with the goal against Pika SC, but last year’s runner-up still was able to etch out a slim 5-3 victory in the 2012 Bud Light Women’s 7-A-Side Soccer League Sunday at the Guam Football Association facility in Harmon.

Pika initially shocked Hyundai when Sara Pleadwell found teammate Christine “Ubi” Ubaldo, who proceeded to finish the play for the game’s first goal in the 4th minute. Later, it would be Pika’s pesky defense, led by goalkeeper Leo Abinales, that would shockingly keep Hyundai scoreless for the remainder of the 30-minute half.

Pika’s slim lead faded within one minute of the second half when Shana Spindel scored the equalizer off a pass from Arisa Recella. Two minutes later, a Recella goal gave Hyundai its first lead of the game. Spindel added another goal a minute later to cap the quick scoring barrage.

All hope wasn’t lost for Pika, when Ubaldo found the back of the net again, this time shooting the ball to the left post past Hyundai goalkeeper Chyna Ramirez to get within one with just under 20 minutes left in the contest.

A Recella goal 15 minutes later put Hyundai up 4-2, but Pika was still goal hungry. After Ramirez initially blocked a shot by Pleadwell, Ubaldo reacted quickly and earned her hat trick by successfully following up on the loose ball with less than two minutes left in the game.

Despite a desperate energy in Pika to score the equalizer, Hyundai quashed its opponent’s hope with a goal from Olivia Flores off an assist from Spindel in the 59th minute for the final score.

The Paintco Lady Strykers also continued their winning ways, this time with a 9-1 win over a short-handed Guam Shipyard team. Alexy Barbe, Felicia Alumbaugh and Caroline Quigley each scored twice. Francesca Pangelinan, Phoebe Minato and Mia Santos scored once each for the Lady Strykers. Demi-Rae Shimizu scored Guam Shipyard’s only goal.

Women’s 7-A-Side league games continue Sunday with Hyundai taking on Shipyard at 2:15 p.m. at the GFA mini turf pitch. The dck Masters face Pika at 3:30 p.m. and Quality plays the Lady Strykers in the day’s late game at 4:45 p.m.